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I LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



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^^ I UNITED STATES OP AMERICA. I 



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Miscellaneous Thoughts. 



IN 



PROSE ANDVEBSE. 



BY MARQUIS B. MUNDELL. 




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PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR, 

Longley Brothers, Printers, 168J Vine Street, 
1855. 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1855, 

BY MARQUIS B. MUNDELL, 

In the Clerk's Office-o! the District Court of Q^iOi 



^tthn. 



It is with modest diffidence that we come before 
the public in this feeble effort to do good; and this is 
our whole desire; this, we believe should be the 
great aim of life. 

It has been suggested that we write an autobiog- 
raphy. We do so, however, with modest delicacy. 
It is this: At a tender age, when our tongue had 
scarce begun to lisp, and our feet to walk, the hand 
of providence was wisely, and it may be, mercifully 
laid upon us, to snatch from us one of the most valu- 
able blessings with which he has favored most men, 
namely, natural vision. In darkness we labored up 
through early childhood, till at an advanced period we 
became a pupil in a district, school; by means of 
which, through the kindness of our friends, and great 
exertion on our part, we have been enabled at least 
to take a few draughts at the fountain of knowledge. 

Such in brief, is our biography. Modesty and the 
limits of a preface, forbid that we should particularize 
further. Sffiuce it to say that for whatever we are or 



4 Preface. 

may hereafter be, we owe gratitude to a beneficent 
Heaven and our kind friends. And whatever have 
been our victories in learning, they have not been 
achieved at colleges of repute; but within the sacred 
precincts of home and the common school. 

Prompted by regret for the evils that overhang 
the world, and of our fellow man, and in the hope 
that we might be an instrument by which some good 
might be accomplished, we have written. We have 
assumed the responsibility — we say responsibility be- 
cause we know that if what we write be read and 
needed, it will have an influence for good or evil, and 
we be accountable to the public now, and to God in 
the last great day. 

On these considerations, with much hesitation we 
desire to come before the enlightened public. We 
are weak, but God in whom we trust is mighty. 
May he add to our humble efforts his power, that it 
may truly be said of us that we have been instru- 
mental in doing good. 

The Author. 



CONTENTS. 



Page 
America, • • . 9 

Address to the Rose, 62 

A few words to Young Readers, 69 

Apostrophe to the Moon, 23 

«* «« " Ocean, 81 

Address to the oppressed nations of Europe and 

Asia, 36 

Attend to our own business, • 84 

Aim of Life, 92 

Beauty in God's Arrangements, 91 

Be contented, 82 

Childhood, 80 

Close of Life at Home in Peace, 85 

Clear Conscience, 88 

Contentment, • • • • » 11 

Christmas Poem, • • • - 30 

Conversation between Eliza and Julia, 57 

Dawning of American Independence, 56 

Dangers which are impending over our Country, 21 
Dissolution of the Union, ♦ • 34 



vi Contents. 

Education, 27 

Female Loveliness,* • • • 48 

Friends we Love, 53 

Fame, '• • • .66 

Freedom, 17 

Final Rest, 18 

God exists, .89 

Human Race, • .19 

Home, .53 

Intemperance, • • • 14 

Kind Words, 59 

Love, .84 

Last Repose,* • • 58 

May Day,- • • 37 

My Choice, 68 

Midnight Musings, • • 71 

Musings at Eve, 72 

Necessity of Moral Education, 73 

New Year's Poem,* • • • 46 

On the Sun,. 10 

Pleasure, .32 

Political Millenium, 80 

Path of Duty, 83 

Rainbow, 13 

Red Man's Lamentation, 75 

Slavery, 11 

To Little Children, 88 

True Virtue,. 16 

The Union,... 25 

" Word Can't, 36 

" Seasons, 50 

Truth, V 54 



\ 



Things that I Love,. • . ^. ,.. ..*., 64 

Why did our Fathers fight?. .» 18 

Wealth, 24 

World's Destiny,. 3q 

Wanderer's Repose, , ^ 47 

Where is lasting Beauty to be found? 60 

Woman_, , lyj 



mtlhnuu% ^^m^ljh. 



2 



AMEEICA. 

America, my native land, 

The garden of the West, 
Permit me here a while to stand, 

And here to sweetly rest. 

Thou land of freedom and of peace. 

The purest and the best, 
Thou wilt never, never cease 

To find a place within my breast. 

America, within thy bounds. 
For many years Tve staid. 

And peace and happiness have found 
Beneath thy banner's shade. 

Thou art the home of millions freed 
■ From vile oppression's hand ; 
Our fathers here did fight and bleed 
To gain this happy land. 

O I may eternal freedom reign. 

Over this lovely place; 
And may no vile infamous stain 

This continent deface. 



10 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

ON THE SUN. 

In splendor bright, the sun arose, 
And shed his radient light; 

Upon the brilliant morning dews, 
Scattering the shades of night. 

For ages past that sun has stood, 
A lamp to worlds unknown; 

And now it stands as bright and good, 
Sublimely and alone. 

Clothed in splendor and in power, 
Light of ages gone before; 

Shine till thy expiring hour 
Bids thee go and shine no more. 

Then will darkness wrap the earth; 

Then will time be fall of years; 
Then will no vain and foolish mirth 

Soothe the heart or dry the tears. 

Then will God descend in wrath, 
And our pleasant earth dissolve; 

Then will fire illume his path; 
Then will fiery vapor fall. 

O! then let us so live and be, 

That when that hour shall come, 

"We may each in triumph see, 
Our everlasting home. 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 1 1 

CONTENTMENT. 



Contentment is a lofty theme, 
And worthy of our thought; 

By far too lofty it would seem, 
For us to set at naught. 

Contentment in its purest state, 

Is gentle and serene; 
It bids us not each other hate, 

With malice or with spleen. 

Contentment is a pleasant thing, 

To be content and mild; 
It does the best of pleasures bring, 

And makes us undefiled. 

'Tis discontentment causes all 

Our envy and our strife; 
'Tis this that makes great men to fall, 

And lead a wretched life. 

Then let us follow in the paths 

Of virtue and of love; 
And be content with what we have. 

And wait our sure reward above. 



SLAVERY. 

This is a question of great importance. It de- 
mands the deep and serious consideration of every 
American. It calls forth the greatest power of elo- 
quence in the American orator. It is a question of 
such great importance that I scarcely know how to 
enter upon it, but I shall endeavor to do as well as I 
am able. 



12 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

In the first place: Slavery is a great evil, — as dark 
as ever polluted the horizon of any nation, is now- 
polluting our fair and happy land. Here let me at- 
tempt a faint description of this beautiful continent. 
This land is the fairest; this the lovliest and the best 
that is to be found anyw^here on the face of the 
globe. There is no land that surpasses it in the 
grandeur and sublimity of its scenery. Its beautiful 
lakes, and its magnificent rivers, and its lofty moun- 
tains far surpass in grandeur and magnitude those of 
Europe and Asia. While our mighty nation has 
reared its head higher than any other nation, now 
standing the proudest and loftiest of all, it is looked 
upon with a kind of solemn awe by the nations of 
Europe. And why is our beautiful continent, our 
mighty nation, marked with that spot of slavery 
which will leave a stain wherever it is allowed to 
exist? 

Slavery may be considered a great central evil 
upon which an enormous train of evils wait, carrying 
in its course pollution and degradation. The first 
thing is the great danger to which it exposes our na- 
tion: it places us in a condition more dangerous, I 
fear, than our political men are aware of. It has al- 
already worked its slow, mysterious way into the 
halls of our Legislation, throwing the representa- 
tives of the people into quarrels and disturbances. 
A thing which in its nature is exceedingly dangerous 
to our Republic. The second evil is, that it is in di- 
rect opposition to our principles of free government. 
This is said to be a free country. It is said that ours 
is a republican form of government, and if so, why 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 13 

do we harbor slavery? Why do we nourish that 
evil, which must, ere long, ripen into perfection, and 
set a deadly poison on the vitals of our prosperity? 
r do not advocate the freeing of our black popula- 
tion among us, but let us send them to some distant 
land, where they may enjoy their freedom in safety, 
uninterrupted and undisturbed by slavery. This will 
be an act, if done, that will reflect the brightest hon- 
or on our nation. It will cause it to shine with 
brilliancy and resplendence. Then will be heard 
the joyous acclamations of countless multitudes en- 
joying their national freedom. Then will the voice 
of liberty resound from end to end of our glorious 
union. Then we will set a bright example for other 
nations to follow. Then will bright laurels be im- 
planted on our nation's brow. Then will we be a 
bright shining ornament on the pages of history, long 
to be loved and remembered by our sister nations. 



THE EAUSTBOW. 



See in yonder distant sky, — 
See the rainbow's lovely face, 

How its colors meet the eye. 

Decked with beauty and with grace. 

See the sun's congenial rays, 
Shining on the falling rain. 

Till the heart is filled with praise, 
And adores His holy name. 

Slowly upward rose a cloud, 

Spreading all its darkness round, 



14 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

Till at length we heard aloud, 

The pealing thunder's awful sound. 

But at length it passed away, 
And the sun gave forth his light, 

Lighting up that pleasant day 
With his brilliant splendor bright. 

Then we looked upon the sky. 
There a lovely object hung; 

There its colors met the eye, 
Giving me my humble song. 

'Twas not like the foaming wave, 
Or the raging billow deep; 

It had there no wat'ry grave. 

Where the many thousands sleep. 

'Twas a Rainbow's lovely form, 
Shining as it passed along. 

Marked upon the raging storm, 
Pure and gentle, bold and strong. 



ON INTEMPEKANCE. 



Intemperance is a subject which demands the at- 
tention of writers. It is a subject of great impor- 
tance, and is worthy of our careful attention. It 
may be viewed as a great evil, no less fearful than 
it is degrading: and no less infamous than it is terri- 
ble. 

This evil is now seen in its most dreadful form, 
polluting and degrading our people. It is spread 
like an epidemic over our whole continent. And 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 15 

what is still worse, it stops not Fiere; but it extends 
over the whole world, carrying in its course desola- 
tion, with an awful mixture of horror, misery, and 
woe upon it. How often do we see families bereft 
of husband and father; and how often do we see 
children following in the paths of vice and sin misled 
by intemperance. Perhaps we may see them stag- 
gering from the grog-shop, palsied by the hand of in- 
temperance, only to seek the houses where they may 
be at liberty_, there to pass away their paroxysm of 
insanity, only to enter upon others, if possible, still 
more horrible. How often do we see men returning 
home from their business, where it might be expected 
they would pass away their leisure hours in sober- 
ness, musing on things of loftier note that those of 
earth, but ah ! how different. Instead of this they 
are raging under the most awful paroxysms of insan- 
ity. How often do we see men laboring under the 
effects of this great evil, slowly sinking under its 
load to an untimely grave. It is often the case that 
young men start in early life upon the busy heau' 
monde, with glittering prospects before them: but, 
alas! how soon do they fall by this hand. Alas! how 
soon are their prospects blighted How soon are 
their bright hopes which they once so fondly cherish- 
ed, nipped by the hand of this fell destroyer. 

Intemperance has set upon their vitals a baneful 
poison, more deadly, if possible, than that inflicted 
by the most poisonous drug. Their brightest hopes 
and their fairest prospects are thus blasted, and they 
are forever ruined and undone. 



16 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

TRUE VIRTUE. 

True virtue is a phrase embodying iri itself all the 
other principles of moral life. With it sobriety* 
peace, love, happiness, and true religion are insepa- 
rably combined. No man can be truly sober or hap- 
py without virtue. And unless he be virtuous he 
cannot love his fellows as he ought; and unless he 
be in full possession of this quality he cannot be truly 
religious. All these qualities depend upon this one 
truth — virtue — as man depends upon food for suste- 
nance do they depend upon this. It is the root of 
every good work. To be truly virtuous is a blessing 
which all men should endeavor to obtain; yet it is 
one great thing in which many are lacking. It is 
this, and this alone which can elevate men to the 
highest rank, and which will enable them to hold 
their position. 

If a man be in full possession of virtue, it will bear 
him safely through trials, tribulations, and difficul- 
ties which he would otherwise be wholly unable to 
.surmount. It was virtue that first prompted the 
Pilgrims to embark on an unknown and pathless 
ocean, surrounded by countless dangers and difficul- 
ties. Inuring themselves to innumerable hardships, 
privations and sufferings, following their dreary and 
desolate course, till at length they reached the des- 
tined place. Here was only to be found desolation 
mixed with horror and terror. Here no white man 
had ever placed a footstep. Here civilization had 
never yet found a place. A huge forest covered the 
whole face of the country, and no sound of life was 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 17 

heard except the deafning yell of the savage, or the 
fierce howl of the wolf. It was virtue that prompt- 
ed them to this. They wished to escape from the 
proud oppressor's hand; — from that vile tyranny 
which had so long kept them in bondage. Here vir- 
tue showed its magic power in leading them to a 
country where they could enjoy political and relig- 
ious rights unfettered by the hand of oppression. 
Virtue is a blessing then, well calculated to elevate 
man, and give him a position in which he may be 
honored. 



FREEDOM. 



Let freedom's lofty notes resound, 
From sea to sea, from sound to sound; 
Let her glad tidings swiftly roll, 
From east to west, from pole to pole. 

Let liberty her charms unfold, 
Till tyrants, trembling, lose their hold, 
Till nations catch the joyful sound, 
And hill and vale alike resound. 

From Greenland to the Southern pole, 
Let freedom's tidings swiftly roll; 

From end to end around the world, 
Let liberty be swiftly hurled. 

Till tyranny her place gives way 
Unto the light of freedom's day; 
Till proud oppressors groan and fall. 
And trembling, leave their shining hall. 



18 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

Till nations shout and join the strain, 
Freedom shall forever reign, 
As mighty as it reigned before. 
Till nations fall to rise no more. 



WHY DID OUR FATHERS FIGHT? 

Why did our fathers fight and strive in revolution 

fierce? 
Or why did widows mourn their husbands with 

many a tear? 
"Why were loved ones bereft of lover's friendship 

sweet? 
Or why did many a throbbing heart with anguish 

beat? 

'Twas to erect a monument sublime. 

One that is never shaken by the grasp of time; 

It was our independence for to gain. 

An independence that will never bear a stain. 

Then let us ever hold in sweet remembrance dear, 
The independence thus so dearly bought, and that 

secured us here; 
Let us ever hold in recollection sweet, 
That liberty which honors men, and makes affection 

sweet. 



THE FINAL REST. 

There is a place of refuge sweet. 
For those who here together meet. 
In unison of love and grace. 
There is for them a resting place. 



Mlscellaneous Thoughts. 19 

There is a place where those who weep, 
May for their tears new pleasures reap ; 
A place of never ending peace, 
Where joys and pleasures never cease. 

There is a place where those who mourn, 
Who long earth's toilsome cares have borne, 
May lay aside their aching clay, 
And sing sweet songs through endless day. 

A place for weary travelers found, 
Beyond the world's discordant sound; 
A place of everlasting peace,- — 
Of never ending happiness. 

When life's dull vanities are o'er. 
And earth's deceits shall be no more. 
When death has closed upon this sphere. 
May we in paradise appear. 



THE HUMAN RAGE. 

The" human race is but a shadow which is seen 
and then disappears. One generation springs up, 
but scarcely have the people reached the age of ma- 
turity till declining years begin to approach them, 
and they pass away as the leaves of autumn. Men 
with shining hopes and glittering prospects, start in 
early life 'mid the bustling din and confusion of the 
busy world, to seek their fortunes in unknown lands; 
but scarcely have they reached the stage of action 
till declining years tell them of their approach to the 
autumn of life. And to what conclusion do w^e 



20 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

now come? This existence is only preparatory to 
another higher and better. 

Life may be compared to the four seasons of the 
year. Youth may be compared to the Spring. 
Early manhood and middle age with Summer. De- 
clining years with Autumn; and old age with Win- 
ter. The youth are the early flowers of Spring; they 
grow up and beauty and lovliness adorn them wher- 
ever they go. At length, with the coming on of 
years, these beauties disappear, and the fruits of 
more mature years begin to ripen and approach per- 
fection." At length middle age comes on, and man is 
seen in his most vigorous and most prosperous condi- 
tion. The fruits of spring are now perfectly ripe. 
At length declining years come on and men begin to 
fall like the leaves of autumn before the blast. The 
autumn of life is now upon them, and they are fast 
hastening to the cold grave whence they never can 
return tijl called forth by the trumpet at the last 
great day of judgment. If we will notice the forest 
"when winter sets in, clusters of leaves which have 
not fallen off may be seen hanging on the trees. 
These have withered and died. Just so with the hu- 
man race. There are some who outlive the rest of 
their generation, and who may be seen withered and 
disfigured by the marks of time. 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 21 

THE DANGERS WHICH ARE IMPENDING OVER 
OUR COUNTRY. 

It is thought by some that our country is now en- 
tirely free from danger, and that there is nothing re- 
maining to mar our future peace and prosperity; and 
that our political sky is clear, and our way to fame 
and distinction unobstructed, and I could wish that 
it were even so; but alas, I fear that it is otherwise. 
There are clouds which now darken our political hor- 
izon, and if they be not dispelled they will shut out 
our bright star of freedom. One danger which now 
threatens us is that of slavery. It was first planted 
on our soil by those who have gone before us; and 
the present generation have nourished it; and it is a 
serpent in the bosom, dangerous to hold and cannot 
easily be cast away. Another danger which is now 
threatening us is the influence of party spirit. This 
influence has already spread chaos and discord among 
our people. The people are the foundation of a Re- 
publican Government, and if they be divided and 
broken up by party strifes and contentions how can 
the government stand? These are dangers which if 
they be not checked must lead to the downfall of our 
Republic. We have now more to strive against than 
our fore-fathers had in the days of the Revolution. 
They then like a band of freemen went out in a com- 
mon cause to battle against a foreign foe for free- 
men's rights; and their hearts and their hands were 
together. But now we have inward divisions and 
contentions to strive against. 

And now let me say to the people of America, 



22 Miscellaneous Thjoughts. 

arise from your lethargy and establish a government 
which cannot be overthrown by all the storms of 
party discord and clamorings of party politicians. 
It is in your hands that the destiny of millions yet 
unborn is placed. If you fail to perform your duty 
as free American citizens, you will bring reproach 
upon yourselves, and involve the future millions in 
political ruin and woe. If you let your bright sun of 
freedom go down you close the world in darkness. 
It is to you that all the world are looking as the 
bright example after which they must follow, and by 
which they may be extricated from the miserable 
mire of tyranny and oppression in which they are 
now involved. The day that you let your glorious 
ship of Independence sink beneath the vortex of po- 
litical disturbance and commotion, you throw a gloom 
over the happiness of all future generations. And 
now let me ask you, will you allow your bright star 
of freedom to be clouded by the bitterness of faction, 
or the more paltry and infamous schemes of vain, 
aspiring politicians? Will you let the liberty for 
which your fathers fought and for which they spilt 
their life's blood, sink into oblivion? 

And now in conclusion I urge you to rise from the 
state of lethargy in which you are now reposing, and 
throw off the incumbrances which now obstruct 
your way, and let your sun of freedom shine glori- 
ously on all the world; and now array yourselves in 
freedom's beautious robe, and elevate yourselves to a 
point of distinction at which you may stand a bea- 
con light to the world. 



MrSCELLANEOUS TflOUGHTS. 23 



AN APOSTROPHE TO THE MOON. 

Here let me pause in wonder and in awe, 
And gaze upon thy light thou glorious moon; 

And think how by an eternal law, 

Thou there hath stood for centuries unknown. 

Thou lightest up the evening sky with beams 
Resplendent, lovely, beautiful and bright; 

Thou shinest on the softly flowing streams, 
Casting a thousand shades of holy light. 

Thou standest here like some bright sphere sublime. 

In power inferior only to the sun; 
Thou art unblemished by the marks of time. 

Nor weakened by the flight of ages gone. 

No change, no alterations mark thy form, 
Time marks no changes on thy lovely brow; 

Thou heedest not the raging winter's storm, 
Just as the world first saw, thou shinest now. 

'Tis thine alone at midnight's silent hour. 
To beautify the world with light serene, 

And cast upon each fragrant blooming flower 
A dazzling, brilliant splendor then unseen. 

'Tis thine when all is wrapt in sullen night, 
When nature calmly and profoundly sleeps, 

To spread around thy sweet refulgent light 
Upon the mighty, vast, wide, watery deep. 



24 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

WEALTH. 

Seek not, vain mortal, wealth to find, 
'Twill not appease thy wishful mind; 
Twill ne'er thy craving hunger stay. 
Though shining gold surround thy Way. "' 

What worthless things does wealth afford, 
To fill the grasping miser's hoard. 
Or swell, with vain, deceitful smiles 
His now expanded, worthless piles. 

Why seekest thou the golden mine 
Where crystals clear, or jewels shine? 
Or why hunt'st thou the diamond's cell, 
Where rubies bright and saphires dwell 1 

Can diamonds ease thy racking pain. 
Though thou Golconda's mines should'st gain? 
Then why thy purer garments spot 
With such a vile, defacing blot? 

But O, how many vainly toil, 
And dig the rich, productive soil, 
To gain this unrepaying toy, 
A fleeting, momentary joy. 

Vain man, why interrupt its sleep? 
Why snatch it from the earthy deep? 
Or why disturb its resting there? 
It only leads thee to despair. 

O hear its voice expostulate. 
And listen to thy coming fate, 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 25 

Heed thou its warning, turn and fly, 
E'er thou art led, with it to die. 

Return, return, thy refuge take, 

E'er racking pains thy body shake; 

E'er from thy breast thy heart's blood flow, 

And thou art led to grief and woe. 

Before thy tender heart strings break. 
And thou from earth thy flight shall take, 
And lay among the countless dead 
Thy weary, aching, painful head. 

I bid thee follow wealth no more. 
In dust thy misery deplore; 
Heturn, in ashes, kneel and pray, 
And see the error of thy way. 

I bid thee cease to err and sin; 
Avoid vain wealth's tumultuous din, 
Nor after shining riches stray, 
Which glitter only for a day. 

Now traveler through this vale of tears, 
Arise, shake off* thy guilty fears. 
And follow righteousness and love. 
And claim thy seat in worlds above. 



ON THE UNION. 



Much has been said on this highly important and 
interesting subject. But there is yet room, and the 
work of the American orator is not yet half accom- 
plished. Let it be the duty and the object of the 
3 



26 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

American orator to elevate and establish firmly and 
immovably the union of these States. Let it be the 
delight, as it is the interest, of every American citi- 
zen, to cherish with love and respect the ties which 
so inseparably connect us, and which so sweetly bind 
the sister States in one common and beautiful con- 
federacy. It is not the heroism of brave command- 
ers, nor the exploits of brave armies; nor yet will the 
hostile crash of bloody steel, or the resounds of thun- 
dering fire-arms establish our Union. No! it requires 
the calm and sober deliberation of American free- 
men. Let it be the sole purpose and business of the 
American orator who aspires and looks forward for 
future greatness, to study and seek after those things 
which are most essential to the future prosperity and 
happiness of the American Union; this alone will 
elevate the Union and give it a place from which it 
will reflect bright honors on its founders. The 
Union now occupies a position of higher rank among 
the nations of the world, and shall it, amid its increas- 
ing glory alid vigor, while prosperity and beauty 
adorn its onward course to fame and distinction; I 
say, shall it be permitted to sink down into oblivion 
because of the inattention and negligence of those 
whose duty it is to support and rally around its 
standard. Let every American citizen rally around 
the banner of the Union, it is high time we were up 
and doing. We are now the dawning light in the 
political horizon of the world; it is through us, and 
by us that liberty must be imparted to the suffering 
and oppressed millions of other climes. Our position 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 27 

now in the world is truly responsible and highly im* 
portant. If we fall we disappoint the hopes and ex- 
pectations of our fellow creatures. If we rise to em- 
inence we determine their future prosperity and hap- 
piness. Then let not the orator sleep quietly at his 
post; but let every nerve_, every faculty, and all his 
mental powers; — let heart and hand be deeply devot- 
ed to the promotion of the interests of which he is 
the champion. 

The Union is now fast rising, and bids fair to gain 
the pre-eminence; extending as it does over more 
than two million square miles, it must, ere long, rise 
to a point of fame and distinction unparalleled in tha 
history of nations. At the same time this nation em- 
bracing as it does such variety of beautiful scenery, 
and offering such immense advantages, and present- 
ing such great sources of w^ealth to the fugitive thou- 
sands who are daily flying from foreign lands to seek 
an asylum within the calm retreat of our peaceful 
and serene borders. 

And now, in conclusion, let me ask, shall our ban- 
ner be stained with internal commotion, shall we ^» 
paint upon our banner the picture of our infamy by 
dissolving the Union? Surely not. But let us hand 
our flag down to posterity as the emblem of our 
union, unblemished and unspotted. 



EDUCATION. 



Let me for a rnoment call your attention to the 
necessity of education. We must educate. The 
safety and permanence of our government, as well as 
the happiness of our peole demand it. We must 
fit and prepare ourselves to perform the duties of 



28 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

government. Let it be remembered by all who love 
their country, that a free and full education of the 
people must ever form the basis of Republicanism 
and liberty. If v^e fail to educate our youth our 
number of eminent men will gradually decrease, and 
through neglect our government will ultimately go 
down. When we view the great importance of edu^ 
cation^ another consideration, scarcely inferior, en- 
grosses our attention. At this enlightened day the 
arts and sciences are pursued to a great extent 
throughout the Old World; shall w^e who profess 
to holdout freedom to the world be behind it in edu- 
cation and knowledge? Shall we who are blessed 
with a Republican form of government be worse 
than those who are ruled by tyranny? Shall those, 
in whose power it is to educate the youth, withhold 
that education from them? Let us remember that 
we have important duties to discharge, and those 
duties must be faithfully and assiduously performed. 
Let us therefore neglect them no longer. I would 
say to both parents and youth, it is not those of 
high and distinguished birth who are always best 
calculated to fill places of honor and trust: it is not 
those whose play-grounds are pavements, and whose 
first dwelling-places were palaces. Nor yet is it 
those whose pillows are heaps of gold who make the 
most eminent and distinguished men. Look for a 
moment at Henry Bascom, one of the most noted 
and distinguished men that ever shone in our relig- 
ious horizon, — whose birth was so humble, and who 
was so poor that he was obliged to burn hickory- 
bark by which to lay up those stores of education 



Miscellaneous Thoughts, 29 

which were destined to qualify him for n high and 
almost boundless sphere of usefulness. Here truly 
is an instance which ought to encourage both par- 
ents and children. Turn for a moment to Andrew 
Jackson, that distinguished hero and statesman, who, 
though consigned to the tomb, yet lives in the hearts 
of his patriotic countrymen, whose memory is em- 
balmed in the American soul. Though he was not 
born amid the pomp and splendor of imperial courts* 
though no adoring thousands bowed to him as to an 
infant prince, though he was mantled in the veil of 
obscurity, though he was surrounded by unfavorable 
circumstances; yet by unfailing energy and uncoquer- 
able determination, he labored up amid opposing dif- 
ficulties, till at the fountain of knowledge he drank 
those mind-invigorating draughts which prepared 
him for usefulness in life. 

These brilliant luminaries could not have shone, or 
could have shone, at least but feebly, but for that 
education which assisted in the developementand ap- 
plication of their mental powers. We must educate; 
our highest interests, our sweetest endearments, the 
holy ties that bind society together, the permanence 
of our Union, the success of our great experiment of 
self-government demanding imperatively that we 
should educate; as parents we must educate. The 
happiness of future generations depends upon it; as 
citizens of a common country we must educate; for 
common interests demand it of those on whom liber- 
ty has been pleased to smile. We must educate, for 
on the wisdom and intelligence of the masses de- 
pends how long we shall be free. The ignorance of 



30 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

the masses is the proof of despotism. As responsible 
beings, we must educate; for the greater our store of 
knowledge the bettter we can discharge our duties to 
our Creator and our fellow-men. If such then be the 
important considerations that call upon us to read 
from the book of knowledge, let us be up and doing, 
that^the blood of posterity may not rest upon our 
garment. That future generations may not curse us; 
while they live and rise up in condemnation against 
us in that last solemn day^ when all the world, the 
wise and the foolish, the^learned and the unlearned, 
shall stand up in one common multitude before the 
great omniscient Judge to answer for the deeds done 
in the body. 



CHRISTMAS POEM. 

Beliold, behold another Christmas comes, 
And O, how many lay within the tomb; 
How many, who with sparkling eyes so gay, 
Were lately seen to shine in brilliant day; 
How many, in their lonely graves are laid. 
Ne'er to return from its now dungeon shade. 

But hark! what sound breaks sweetly on my ear? 
The voice of melody I seem to hear; 
The merry laugh of sportive lovers gay, 
To me, in gentle words, would seem to say: 
« Why linger thus in silent musing there? 
Turn, turn thyself away to scenes more fair." 

I turn and look upon the busy world 

With all its beauty, love and grace unfurled; 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 31 

There are the fair, the beautiful, the gay. 
There is the bubbling wave that cannot stay; 
I view the gay, fantastic circle o'er, 
Then turn and Wk upon these scenes no more. 

Come, come my heart, from such low scenes 

away. 
Those things that glitter only for a day, 
And watch the years, as quick they pass along, 
And mingle not with the fantastic throng, 
Which only tells how years are fleeting by, 
Soon to mingle in eternity. ^ 



APOSTROPHE TO THE OCEAN. 

Why rollest thou o'er adamantine rocks, 
Or why dost thou with foaming billows roar? 
Why rendest thou the air with thy dread sound, 
Or why dost thou pursue thy course sublime, 
While nations fall into oblivion? 
Proud oak-leviathans upon thee move 
Defying all thy waves and mighty powers; 
And men across thy billowy waves with fear. 
Travel, and leave no track behind, on thee. 
To show the wandering course that they have 
gone. 

Down low in thy unfathomable deep, [lain 

Are bleaching bones, which there for years have 
Beneath the element that rolls above, 
Paying no tribute of respect to those 
Who long have lain within their watery grave. 
Man, when his fellow man expires, consigns 



32 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

Him, with pomp and parade, to the dark tomb, 
But thou carest not for those who sink down 
Beneath thy vortex, ne'er to rise again, 
But still thou rollest on unceasingly. 



PLEASURE. 

Pleasure's paths are smooth and flow'ry, 
In them sweetest flowers are strewn, 

And we see fresh, blooming hourly. 
Blossoms hitherto unknown. 

Golden prospects, hopes delighting, 

Glittering shine along the way, 
And, with flatteries inviting, 

Bid us follow them nor stay. 

Fields of happiest Elysian, 

Constantly before us lie, 
Charms for our enraptured vision^ 

Pleasing objects for the eye, 

Days of pleasure without number 
Seem to lie within our power, 

But remember, 0, remember, 

There's a thorn beneath each flower. 

Though to-day no touch of sorrow 
Mingles with our cup of bliss. 

Yet we know not what to-morrow 
May betide to mar our peace. 

Flowers of pleasure fast are fading, 
Like the lily or the rose, 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 33 

Soon must drop their verdant fragrance 
Ere autumnal breezes blow. 

But perhaps some one is seeking 

Pleasure's oft frequented way, 
If so, let me, gently speaking, 

Warn you your footsteps for to stay. 

You that love the paths of pleasure. 

You that often pluck her flowers, 
Turn and seek a better treasure 

For adverser, darker, hours. 

Soon, the eve of life declining, 

Brings the end of youthful days; 
Then, across your pathway shining, 

You may see no hopeful rays. 

Then, in silence and in sadness, 

You may weep your lifetime o'er, 
Wishing for those days of gladness 

Which can visit you no more. 



OX THE DISSOLUTION OP THE UNION". 

No question can possibly be of greater moment 
than this. Tliis nation now stands the greatest in 
the civilized globe, and should this union be dissolved, 
what awful consequences must inevitably follow. 
Let it be remembered that the preservation of this 
union will tend to the prosperity and happiness of 
ages yet to come; and the dissolution of it would 
tend to commotion and disturbance. Suppose for 
4. 



34 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

one moment this union were to be dissolved, and we 
were to look around us, what would we behold on 
every side: anarchy and civil war. Civil war would 
be the consequence of the dissolution of the union, 
desolation would be spread over the whole contin- 
ent. You'would see on every hand friends and rela- 
tions lifting up their hands against each other. 

In short, devastation and desolation would cover 
the whole land. 

The very idea of the dissolution of the union is 
enough to shock the strongest hearts: yet we see 
men in these United States, standing up and advo- 
cating a course which would be indeed degrading to 
this whole people. Let us follow the pages of histo- 
ry back to the days of 1620, there we see pilgrims 
banished from their native land, because of their hon- 
est opinions, launching out into the pathless ocean, 
wending their way to the then newly discovered 
continent, enduring all the privations that may be 
expected by those who emigrate to new countries. 
At length they land at Plymouth, and commence a 
life of hardship, and erect a colony. It has grown 
and increased, and now forms this great republic. 

Let us follow the pages of history a little further, 
to what is generally called the French and Indian 
war. Hear we first see the immortal Washington, 
standing up in defense of his country, and next comes 
the revolutionary war; a struggle in which thirteen 
small colonies engaged themselves, determined to have 
their national liberty secured to them; a blessing 
which was finally secured to them after much blood 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 85 

having been shed. And we see these thirteen colo- 
nies enjoying their national freedom, a blessing 
which cannot be too highly prised by any nation; a 
blessing that is evidently intended that all nations 
should enjoy. And if this glorious union should be 
dissolved, how soon would we be stripped of all our 
enjoyment. Then let not this union be dissolved, 
let men look around them, let them reason and think, 
let them consider for a moment what an act of insan- 
ity it would be; it would be an act against which the 
very blood of the fathers of the Revolution would 
cry out. And if the union be once dissolved, who 
can rebuild what has been thrown down?' who can 
replace what once has been snatched from us? who 
can reconstruct what has once been destroyed? But 
some may say there is no danger of the dissolution of 
the union. I say that, unless this highly exciting 
question of slavery is settled, there is the greatest 
danger imaginable. Already the irritation is high; 
the fire of indignation is being kindled in both sections 
of the union, and we now begin to see a disposition 
in some to have the union dissolved. And I fear, 
and I have reason to believe that my fears are well 
founded, that the time is not far distant, when the 
ties which bind this glorious union will be severed. 
But O! may I never see that hour, and may that 
time be too far distant to be recognized by me. 



36 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

THE WOED CAN'T. 

I ca'nt, I said; but could not I ? 

I'd think again, and then I'd try; 

And still "cant" seemed to force its way. 

But it I then refused to say. 

I tried, and tried, and tried again, 
Waiting in patience till the end; 
At length I found the work was done, 
And I the lengthy race had run. 

And then I sat me down to rest. 
With some feelings in my breast; 
Thinking what cannot mortals do, 
Assisted by a God so true. 



ADDRESS TO THE OPPRESSED NATIONS OF 
EUROPE AND ASIA. 



Arise, ye nations, strive and fight 
Against a proud oppressor's might; 
Till tyranny is overthrown. 
Till ye yourselves shall stand alone. 

Why do you lie in silence there ? 
Arise and bring your arms to bear. 
Your independence quickly take, 
And cause each tyrants throne to shake 

Arise, there's danger in delay. 
New evils follow every, day; 
O why in lethargy are ye ? 
Arise and say that vou are free. 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 37 

Arise, arise, I now repeat. 
And lay your tyrants at your feet; 
O when will nations learn and know, 
That tyrants are their greatest foes. 

Nations, take freedom for your own, 
And hurl each tyrant from his throne. 
Cast down these infamous despots, 
Who for your freedom lay these plots. 

Let liberty your standard be. 
Let it be heard from sea to sea; 
Let it resound from shore to shore, 
Till earth and sea shall be no more. 



MAY-DAY. 

We hail thy coming, beauteous May, 
Thou beauty of the spring; 

This is the fairest day. 

The loveliest of all thino:s. 

This month the fairest and the best, 

The beauty of the year. 
When decked with beauty's vest, 

It really does appear. 

But hark, I think I hear 

Some sweeter music from , 

Some lonely woodland near, 
It is the lover's song. 

To-day beneath the shady powers 
The mei'ry lovers meet; 



38 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

And talk away their leisure hours, 
In transports soft and sweet. 

To-day the voice of melody, 
Is heard from many a grove; 

To-day the strains of harmony 
Are raised in thrilling love. 

This is a pleasant time 

To all who it enjoy; 
And I think, to make it rhyme. 

To all w4io it employ. 

But let my thoughts ascend 

From earth's low things away, 

And think upon the end, 
Why is this pleasant May. 

It is for that not understood 
By man a mortal here; 

It is designed for somthirjg good, 
Is obviously clear. 

Then let us not forget 
To use it as we ought. 

And thus a good example set 
To those who heed it not. 



THE WORLD'S DESTINY. 



It is beyond the power of man to tell what event 
may transpire in the future. He has no intellectual 
power given him that will answer the purpose, ex- 
cept it be given him, as a message, from the Omnis- 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 39 

cient One, and the time for such piophecies is now 
passed, therefore we need not essay to foretell events, 
and place the certainty of their occurrence beyond 
dispute; but we may by the powers of reasoning 
which are given us, settle in our minds to a some- 
what satisfactory extent, the course of great events, 
and though we cannot render them entirely indis- 
putable, we may have such plain arguments, and give 
them such a degiee of plausibility, by sound reason- 
ing and honest investigation, as to render them next 
to indisputable. In viewing this great subject, two 
great events are presented to the mind of the atten- 
tive observer; one of which must evidently transpire 
in the course of time, viz: Europe must be free, and 
through it the world. Or, failing to gain this high 
state, the world must retrograde and fall back to 
the dark and gloomy state of barbarism, from which 
it has taken it eighteen hundred years, and more, to 
emerge. To make this assertion the more obvious, I 
propose to give a philosophical reason coupled with 
a figurative illustration. It is generally known that 
if a spherical body be rolled up a steep ascent, and 
be left unsupported, and the way be unobstructed, it 
will return with rapidity to the base of the hill, — 
This will apply to the World. It has been forced 
up the hill of science, of progress, and of refinement 
until it has gained a considerable elevation, and if it 
be left unsupported it must fall back to its former 
state of barbarism. But this does not sufficiently 
satisfy our minds; we need some higher evidence. 
To obtain this evidence let us examine the condition 
of the world at large, comparing its past condition 



40 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

with its present. We see that in the course of sev- 
enty-six years, the mighty, prosperous, happy nation 
of America has grown up under the influence of a 
Republican form of Government; we see, too, that in 
all past Ages, when despotism reigned universally, a 
universal degradation and barbarism prevailed; we 
see, too, that when the plant of freedom was permit- 
ted to grow to a faint shade of maturity, the world, 
as if by a magical impulse, moved forward, civiliza- 
tion spread, and barbarism disappeared. But again 
when this plant withered, blighted by the influence of 
intolerance, and despotism again assumed the ruling 
power, the world receded; all that it had ever gained 
was again lost, barbarism returned. Take, as an ex- 
ample^ Rome, whose name has been handed down to 
posterity, coupled with that of freedom and repub- 
licanism. She flourished for a time, but by her own 
law of intolerance she brought despotism upon her- 
self, and debasement and complete prostration fcllow- 
ing in its train; thus w^as she reduced to a state, 
worse, if possible, than her former state of barbarism. 
In like manner must all nations, ruled by despotism, 
fall. Despotism exerts a demoralizing influence over 
its subjects, it closes the doors of the nation against 
civilization; to strengthen its own foundation it forces 
upon its people ignorance, both of literature and of 
their own condition. Thus we see that the very 
tendency of despotism is to prevent progress, to keep 
mankind wrapt in a gloomy vail that they may not 
see the light, lest it find destruction wailing at its 
door. But one will ask, what means all this, what 
does it prove? Why, it proves that if despotism 



MrSCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS. 41 

once more gain the ruling power, the world is gone, 
peihaps forever. But is there any danger of its gain- 
ing that power? There is. Republicanism and Des- 
potism cannot both stand upon the same little globe. 
Despotism wishes to oppress all mankind, while, on 
the other hand, Republicanism wishes to elevate and 
render them happy, prosperous, and free. The two 
designs are too great and too much opposed to each 
othei" to occupy so small a space; one or the other 
must alone predominate. They are both ambitious, 
and hard w^ill be the struggle between them. It is 
true, America stands a free and mighty Republic, yet 
despotism with all its attendant subtleties rules Eu- 
rope, and it will require the most extreme care and 
watchfulness on our part to hold our own position. 
Should the monarchs of Europe succeed in quieting 
the disturbances which have for the last four years 
convulsed that continent, things may settle down for 
a time, and we may, falsely, suppose ourselves safe, 
but we are never entirely safe as long as despotism 
exists. The despots hate us, our example is danger- 
ous to them, the very form of Republicanism is a ter- 
ror to them'; they long for its obliteration ; they will 
carefully watch their time, and seize upon their op- 
portunity to rise in their strength and swear that we 
shall be no more. Let despotism once more perma- 
nently gain the ascendency in Europe, then let our 
people be disturbed by internal commotions; then as 
the illustrious Kossuth has said, *' perhaps a foreign 
war may come up;" then will our doom be fixed, 
then will the blow be struck at our independence, 
and the results will be, the final subjugation of our 



42 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

people to the tyrant's will, the demolition of our 
mighty superstructure of liberty, and the ultimate 
erasion of Republicanism from the face of the earth. 
Such must be the consequences if despotism gain the 
ascendency. A terrible storm is gathering which, 
when it breaks out, will shake Europe and America 
in the convulsion. A battle must soon commence 
between the two great principles of the world. They 
have long been at war and that war must soon break 
out in open combat upon the battle field, and which 
of the two principles will conquer, time will deter- 
mine.. But: 

May I predict that, 'neath the smiles of heaven, 
The tree of freedom, w^hich has in our soil 
Grown to maturity, and raised its boughs 
'Till dipping in the firmament of heaven. 
Shall grow still higher, and shall throw a shade 
Over the long oppressed of Europe's land; 
So may thou stand, fair tree of freedom, stand 
jTill time shall be no more; and thou be called 
To be transported to a brighter world 
To shade o'er millions who were once on earth 
Slaves; subject to the haughty tyrant's will. 

Although, as I have already remarked, time must 
determine which of these two great principles will 
conquer, yet we may have our opinion ; and to him 
who philosophizes and reasons calmly and deliberate- 
ly on the changeableness of man, in a moral and a 
mental, as w^ell as a physical point of view, this mat- 
ter can be of but little doubt; and though it is true 
that we, as men, have not Omniscience to foresee 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 43 

and foreknow future events, yet we can, as I have 
before stated, as beings possessing human nature, 
tolerably well satisfy our own minds, as to the course 
of events of such great moment. And I believe that 
if we could at once obtain the power to draw the 
vail of human weakness and ignorance from our 
eyes and look by the power of prophetic vision, into 
the mysterious future, we would see beyond the 
clouds that now hide the political sky of the world; 
we would see the bright sun of freedom rising, which 
shall soon break forth and shine in splendor upon the 
world. The aurora is begun; it is but a thin mist, 
that hides the brilliant sunlight from our view. But 
to prove my assertion we need not lack for evidence. 
To him who considers carefully, and without preju- 
dice, the political state of Europe, and who endeav- 
ors, as far as man is able, to weigh all things in an 
even balance, it must be obvious that the world must 
and will ere long be free. 

Political convulsions have for the last four years 
shaken the Continent of Europe; the thrones of Em- 
perors and of Monarchs have tottered; France has 
been a Republic; Hungary has risen in her strength, 
and subdued the merciless tyrant that ruled her and 
declared herself free; but we —shame be upon us, 
neglectfully delayed the acknowledgement of her in- 
dependence, and thus allowed her hopes to be pros- 
trated. Mav we yet have an opportunity to clear 
our skirts of that dishonor; may Heaven forbid that 
the blood of Hungary's nationality should thus stain 
our garments long! Meanwhile Ireland has been 
convulsed, and many petty tyrants throughout the 



44 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

land, have been dethroned. Now what was the cause 
of this? It was the thundering voice of an awakened 
people, aroused to a sense of their condition. Our 
example has inspired them ; beholding us they have 
admired us ; admiring us, they have aspired to imi- 
tate us ; they have uttered a voice of terror that has 
shaken the Tyrant's throne and has struck a panic 
to the very heart of tyranny. Rut there is another 
argument in favor o(" this position. We are led to 
draw^ the inference from Scripture, that a period is 
to come when the Gospel trump shall have been 
sounded lo all the world ; the ministers of the Gospel 
are commanded to bear the joyful news to all man- 
kind ; now may it not reasonably be inferred from 
this that it is the design of the Almighty that all na- 
tions should hear this Gospel — that all men may have 
an opportunity of becoming its disciples; that relig- 
ion may exist in every land; free and unrestrained. — 
It certainly is. But can it be accomplished while 
despotism exists ? Reason must answer no. Where 
despotism is, there is intolerance, and where intoler- 
ance is, religion cannot be; religion teaches man what 
he is, it tells him that he is by nature free, and so soon 
as he becomes fully aware of this, the strongest claims 
of despotism cannot bind him. Thus we see that 
despotism and religion cannot dwell together, the 
one of heavenlv origin, tending to enlisfhten and re- 
fine the spirit ; the other, a vile invention of the 
evil one, to blind, pollute, and demoralize the human 
race. Then even the fulfilment of the sacred Scrip- 
tures can be accomplished only by the freedom of 
the world from tyranny and oppression, and it must 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 45 

and will be accomplished, for the decree of the Al- 
mighty is irrevocable and unchangeable. But there 
is another argument; there is a judgment day coming, 
when all men shall stand before an awful tribunal, 
and can it be supposed that God after having given 
his only Son to die upon the ignominious cross to 
redeem man from a lost and ruined state, and having 
sent his ministers for more than eighteen hundred 
years to preach to men and urge them to leave the 
paths of sin and vice, and having elevated the world 
to its present state of refinement, will allow it to re- 
cede and go back to the barbarism of antiquity, and 
thus, be unprepared to meet that awful day? But 
as I have already I'emarked, a great struggle is ap- 
proaching between the two princi[)les of the world, 
and let me, ask, in conclusion, what ground shall we 
as a nation occupy ? On us hangs the destiny of the 
world; and on us the peace and happiness of poster- 
ity depend ; shall we stand off, as cold, disinterested 
spectators, till the battle is over, and all is lost ? If 
so, let us, kneeling in dust and ashes, hide our faces 
with the mantle of dishonor. But let us rather stand 
up in all the pride and glory of a mighty Republic, 
shielded by the justice of our cause, armed with a 
firm trust in God, and stimulated by the purity of 
our motives, we shall be as a rock, against which all 
the storms of despotism will beat in vain. 



46 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 



NEW YEAE'S POEM. 

Now another year declining, 

Soon must close its short career, 
While upon our vision shining, 

Sweetly dawns the coming year. 

Now think of human beings. 

Full of vigor and of joy. 
Who, in foolish transport, seeming. 

Follow every idle toy. 

Full of hope's alluring prospects, 
On they go from day to day, 

Seizing every worthless object. 
Which can only soon decay. 

Days of transport, days of pleasure. 
Meet and gather on their way ; 

Heaps of glory without measure 
All along their pathway lay. 

But each year, while gently closing, 
Warns them calmly to return. 

Lest, while they in peace reposing. 
All their glory, them should spurn. 

Then, in silence,^and in sadness, 

They should weep their hfetime o'er, 

Wishing for those days of gladness. 
Which can visit them no more. 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 47 



THE WANDERER'S REPOSE. 

Here rests the wanderer in sweet repose, 
Now calmly rests his weary frame of clay, 

On earthly scenes his eyes he now has closed, 
And left the world and all its proud display. 

Resting in deep forgetfulness he lies. 

And knows not of his cold and cheerless bed 

Beneath the covering of the deep blue skies. 
He lays in sweet repose his painless head. 

But where, O where are all his once loved friends, 
They know not now that death his eyes have closed; 

And while their hopes in sweetest union blend. 
And in their hearts the warm affection glows. 

They hope with confidence to see the face 
Of him, the wanderer, returning soon — 

Soon to partake of home's delightful peace ; 

There all his paths with sweetest flowers are strewn. 

But ah ! full many a disappointment grieves 
The heart of friendship innocent and pure, 

And even while its wreathes of flowers it weaves, 
It finds some sorrow wailing at its door. 

And now unconscious of his friends he sleeps 
The sleep that friends or foes can never break — 

Wrapt in oblivion's wakeless slumber deep, 
Never again on scenes of earth to wake. 



48 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

Far, far away perhaps in distant lands, 

Far from the native soil that gave him birth, 

Where all his joys and griefs have found an end- 
Reclining now he rests on foreign earth. 

So now he rests, his joys and sorrows o'er, 
From constant turmoils free his aching breast, 

And earth's vicissitudes and scenes no more 
Henceforth shall e'er disturb his peaceful rest. 

Sleep on thou till the resurrection morn 

Shall call thee from thy slumbers to ascend, 

On buoyant pinions swiftly upwards borne. 
In paradise above to meet thy friends. 

And when above in that celestial clime. 
May thou amid thy glorious triumphs see. 

Unfettered by the withering grasp of time, 
The one who sings thee now thus feelingly. 



FEMALE LOVELINESS. 

As once in thoughtful mood I lay. 
My merry vision chanced to stray 
Up to imagination's tower ; 
And there she chose to spend an hour. 

And as from there she loooked around. 
Pleased with the sights her eyes had found. 
Delighted much and all entranced. 
She might for joy almost have danced. 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 49 

Enraptured with the lovely scene, 
The gardens, groves, and meadows green, 
While flowers of every tint and hue. 
Appeared to her enchanted view. 

It seemed as though elysian there. 
Was carried even in the air ; 
While fragrant flowers by zephyrs fann'd. 
Did forth their countlesss odors send. 

As in the green and pleasant grove, 
So sweetly sung the birds of Love ; 
And every scene and every thing, 
Denoted the presence of the spring. 

At length from 'neath a shady bower, 
Moving amid a thousand flowers. 
My vision's much delighted eye, 
A lovely object chanced to spy. 

Forth coming like the morning star, 
Fair as nocturnal moonbeams are. 
Gentle, almost divine, and good, 
Robed in loveliness it stood. 

It was a maiden young and sv^eet, 
With nature's choicest gifts replete ; 
To whose" sweet countenance was given, 
Such charms as are the charms of heaven. 

No costly silks her garments were. 
No undue pride was pictured there. 
But proudly simple, sweetly plain. 
She was almost by sin unstained. 
5. 



50 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

Nor were her features fair alone, 
No, in her brightest beauties shone, 
A loving heart, a noble mind. 
Were in her bosom pure, combined. 

Thus doubly beauteous was that maid, 
As youthful luster round her played. 
While on her cheeks the rose was blown. 
She seemed too sweet for earth alone. 

My vision gazed upon her long, 
And gave me this my humble song, 
And as it gazed, I mused, I thought, 
My mind this sad reflection caught. 

How sad it seemed that one so fair, 
Should shortly be the child of care, 
How hard indeed it seemed that she 
Might soon some bitter anguish see. 

The fairest, loveliest, and the best, 
Only one moment can possess. 
And though to-day we feel no sorrow. 
We kaow not what may come to-morrow. 



THE SEASONS. 

How brightly after winter's chilling cold 
When spring her brightest beauties all unfold^ 
When woodland songsters let their music flow, 
And fill with gladsome praise each verdant bough, 
And flowrets in the garden and the grove. 
Proclaim their great Creator's power and love. 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 51 

When opening buds their odors sweet emit, 
And flowers with superhuman skill and set, 
And vegetation from the fruitful earth. 
Of every kind receives spontaneous birth, 
And mto vegetable being springs, 
Innumerable hosts of useful things. 

Next comes the summer bringing in its train, 

The joyous harvest of the ripened grain; 

And thousand luxuries for greedy men; 

Who oft consume and think not whence it came ; 

Nor are these all of summer's choicest charms. 

She brings with her the bursting thunder storms. 

The storm, which seeing, timid men amazed, 
Stood back and on the sublime drama gazed. 
While lightning flashing from the concave sky, 
Bid man's gigantic works in atoms fly ; 
And the contending elements aloud 
Proclaim the Almighty rides upon the cloud. 

Next comes the autumn, bringing in its train 
The howling winds and the slow driveling rain, 
When in the groves once lovely and once green. 
Now fall the leaves as fall the sons of men. 
While at each eve the insect's mournful chime 
Sings to our ear the knell of dying time. 

Go autumn with thy sad solemnity, 
Go bid the thoughtless turn, neglect and see, 
Go, tell them time is fleeting, ere they run 
Their race, and learn it not till time is gone; 



52 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

Go to them with thy solemn warning voice, 
And bid them seek than earth for higher joys. 

Now comes the winter, and his icy hand 

Is laid both on the water and the land ; 

And lake and river, pond and tiny stream, 

Ahke bound down in icy fetters seem, 

While twittering snow-birds on the leafless trees, 

Play on regardless of the chilling breeze. 

Around the fireside now are gathered those, 

In whose congenial hearts affection glows, 

The young and fair in mirthful pleasure meet, 

And those of every age each other greet; 

While ever and anon keen breezes blow, 

And winter clouds discharge their treasured snows. 

Shall we not see in all, the great design 
That truth and love in all these works combine. 
And shall we from these things no lesson learn, 
Shall we not view each season in its turn, 
And learn if ne'er we knew so much before. 
That God in heaven rules in love and power. 

Shall we not view spring's delightful charms, 
The summer's fruitful harvests and her storms, 
Autumn and winter, and thus learn to know 
Our lives are but around of seasons too; 
Nor is this all that we from this may learn. 
If so we might to sad lamenting turn. 

But if we study nature's volume fair. 
We may behold Deity pictured there. 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 53 

On all her pages love and wisdom shine. 
Wisdom and love are marked ia every line; 
Her laws do of their Giver all declare, 
His attributes, love, truth, and wisdom are. 



HOME. 

O sweet are thy endearments, 
Thou well beloved home» 

O let me thee remember. 
If e'er from thee I roam. 

Here were my first enjoyments. 
Here are the friends I love ; 

Here in my first employments, 
I first have learned to move. 

O be thy memory hallowed. 

Forget, O may I not. 
The scenes of my youthful pleasures. 

Around this lovely spot. 

And when my years are numbered, 

And all my race is run. 
Then may I sweetly slumber, 

Beneath my native sun. 



THE FKIENDS WE LOVE. 

The friends we love to us how dear, 
How sweet are fond affection's ties, 

How blest the thought, that all our tears 
Flow not alone fi'om our own eyes. 



54 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

What consolation does it give, 

When troubles deep surround, to know- 
That other bosoms for us heave. 

While deep misfortune's waters flow. 

Who has a painful lot to bear, 
That has a friend beneath the sky. 

That never finds sweet pleasure there, 
A balm to soothe the rising sigh. 

And even though misfortune's frown, 
-^ Hang not above our darksome way, 
Though we with wealth and ease be crowned, 
During our life's ephemeral day. 

What were this life to us indeed. 

If there were none our hearts could have, 

None to sustain our aching heads, 

As through the vale of tears we move. 

Let us each others' sorrow share, 

Let us each other learn to love. 
So may we dry a thousand tears, 

So may we well our time improve. 



THE TEUTH. 



The truth shall stand while ages flee, 

To the returnless past ; 
The truth shall stand when time shall be. 

Reckoned no more at last ; 
When revolutions of the spheres, 

No more denote the passing years. 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 55 

The truth shall stand while nations rise, 

And thrones and kingdoms fall ; 
The truth shall stand while in the skies, 

Earth shines a blazing ball. 
Yes, firmly fixed the truth shall stand, 

Firm as creation's strongest band! 



'& 



Nations shall hasten to decay. 

Kingdoms will rise no more. 
Earth's brightest realms shall fade away. 

As fades the morning flower ; 
But fadeless truth shall live at last. 

When mortal things away have passed, 

Thrones and dominions, stately powers, 

And empires all must die. 
So shall earth's most gigantic towers. 

In moldering ashes lie. 
Nations shall find oblivion's tomb. 

And fire earth's sinful filth consume. 

But changeless truth unchangeable. 

Shall live while ages roll! 
Its power, its limits, who can tell, 

Who its effects control; 
Before it he must shortly bend. 

Who dares against its powers contend. 

Ere long this dark terrestrial ball. 

Refined by fire shall be. 
Ere long the mighty Judge's call, 
Earth trembling shall obey, 



56 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

Before the great tribunal then, 

Arraigned shall stand the sons of men. 

The truth shall there her triumph see, 

And all her sons shall sing, 
The darkness to the darkness flee. 

Like ice before the spring, 
And the redeemed from every land. 

Through Truth victorious shall stand. 



THE DAWNINQ OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE. 

'Tv^^as on this consecrated land 

That freedom dawned in splendor bright; 

And 'round the star a glorious band 
Gathered to hail the coming light. 

A rapturous band of freedom's sons 
Hastened to sing the lovely song; 

And freeborn millions joined in one, 
The sweet, harmonious sound prolong. 

Hail to the day the beauteous morn 
Enrobed in beams of gorgeous light. 

Which like some pure, angelic form. 
Has scattered all the shades of night. 

Ten thousand tongues unite to sing, 

The song of freedom's victory; 
Which makes the mighty welkin ring. 

Rejoice, rejoice, ye noble free. 

And angels flew to join the strain. 
And seraphs, too, their voices raised, 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 57 

And then across the billowy main, 
Bold Britain stood aghast, amazed. 

Seraphic music filled the breeze; 

Loud acclamations rolled on high, 
Till freedom's bright, unfading tree, 

Waved its bright foliage in the sky. 

Liberty's banner was unfurled. 

Into the breeze of heaven it rose, 
Around it stood a wondering world. 

Before it stood its conquered foes. 

Once more did freemen raise their voice; 

Once more creation's pillars shook; 
Oii6e more all Christendom rejoiced. 

Save Britain, who was horror struck. 



CONVEESATIOK BETWEEIT ELIZA AND JULIA. 

Sister Julia, do you know 
What can soothe the deepest woe. 
What can make the heart of steel, 
Quick with tenderness to feel? 

What can make an enemy. 
Soon our warmest friend to be, 
What can friends more closely bind, 
What relieve the care-worn mind? 

Say, dear sister, can you tell. 
Why the Savior came to dwell 
On the earth with sinful men. 
Lived, and deid, and rose again? 



58 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

Yes, Eliza, it is love, 
That the hardest heart can move; 
Love subdues our enemies, 
Strengthens friendship's former ties. 

Love can buoy the spirits up, 
Svi^eetness mix in every cup; 
Yes, Eliza, it v^as love. 
Brought the Savior from above. 

Soon shall fade the vernal flowers, 
, Soon shall come life's winter hours; 
But the flower of love shall bloom, 
Fairest in the darkest gloom. 

And when life's short hour is past, 
And we all are saved at last, 
As we sit by Heaven's pure stream, 
Love shall be our happy theme. 



THE LAST EEPOSE. 



There is a land where pilgrims rest, 

When all their toils on earth are o'er, 
A place where souls, by care oppres'd, 
Shall happy be securely blest, 
Forever more. 

There is a realm far, far more bright, 

Than any that to earth belong; 
There ever in unsullied light, 
To praise around God's throne unite. 
The blood-washed throng, 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 59 

A while below must mortals roam; 

A while on earth must sigh and weep; 
Then in the drear, contracted tomb, 
Where nought disturbs their silent gloom, 
Their bodies sleep. 

But soon the judgment day shall dawn, 

And all the dead again shall live; 
And they whose guilty stains are gone. 
And who the Father's will have done. 
Crowns shall receive. 

Then shall the weary pilgrims rest, 
Then shall his full rejoicing come; 
Deep sighs no more shall heave his breast, ^ 
Then shall he be forever blest, 
In that bright home. 



KIND WORDS. 



Go speak kind words to the orphan child. 
Whose heart by affliction is riven; 

Go speak to his spirit in accents mild, 
Lest he to madness by sorrow be driven. 

Go speak to his spirit by grief oppress'd, 
Go whisper in gentle tone. 

Speak kindly, for sorrow enough at best. 
Along his dark pathway is strewn. 

Go speak to the widow whose last earthly hope, 
The clods of the valley now cover; 

Go bid her with gladness to heaven look up, 
For her sorrow shall shortly be over. 



60 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

Go speak to. her tenderly, heal the deep wound 

That is made by affliction's sword; 
Go speak, let the blossoms of gladness abound, 
Go speak to her tenderly, words, kind words. 

Go speak kind words to the aged man, 

For he with life's tempest has striven; 
O, hasten to bid him rejoice again. 

As he nears the bright borders of heaven. 
Go speak to him mildly for he has seen 

Life's trials, and troubles, and cares; 
Go speak to him mildly, in peace serene 

Let him finish his latter years. 

Go speak to the young, ere their feet shall run, 

Unguarded^ in vicious paths forbidden; 
Speak kindly, and teach them the thorn to shun 

That beneath the bright flower is hidden. 
Go speak to manhood in every state, 

Whether orphan, or widow, or aged or young; 
Go speak, for the power of kind words is great, 

With flowers, to bestrew life's pathway along. 



WHEKE IS LASTING BEAUTY TO BE FOUND? 

I asked the aged man whose silvery locks betoken- 
ed that his complement of three score years was 
well nigh full. He said: — 

Oh, seek it not as I have sought it, lest thou in 
hoary age have cause thy folly to lament. I have 
sought Beauty in the lovely groves where the clear, 
murmuring brook warbled sweetly through secluded 
spots bounded by verdant hills; and the breeze and 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 61 

zephyr stole softly on, laden with the rich perfume 
from off a thousand opening flowers. And sweet 
woodland songsters poured out melody on every 
passing gale. Here, said I to my heart, is the thing 
which thou seekest. Rejoice, my soul, and be glad; 
here will I take up my abode. But I returned and 
it was faded; the trees had lost their beautiful dress, 
and all the beauties of the forest were gone. I turn- 
ed away and wept, and as I wept I raised my eyes 
and beheld a lovely female; she was clad in youthful 
simplicity, and her feet had not entered far in vicious 
paths. She was not swift to run in the way of evil- 
doers. Her garments seemed yet unspotted by 
earth's baser sins. She seemed an angel which had 
descended from heaven to bless the earth with her 
presence. I said here is the prize, shall this beauty 
ever fade? Surely Heaven has not created an ob- 
ject on which nature has expended all her skill to 
make it beautiful, only'to fade! But I looked again 
and it was even so. The rose had fled from her 
cheek to return no more. And as for her inner beau- 
ties they were gone, and rank debasement grew 
where once fair innocence had bloomed, and moral 
prostration dwelt where once pure and holy emo- 
tions were wont to move. 

I turned away and wept, and as I wept I lifted up 
my eyes and beheld a figure divinely fair, whose es- 
sence was love to God and man. It was possessed 
by a man. It was the immortal mind. This is the 
immortal beauty. This is the unfading flower. Seek, 
young raan, with sleepless diligence to be useful in 
the world, and discharge thy duty well. So shall 



62 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

thou be a fadeless flower, that hours of adversity and 
winters of affliction can never wither, but which 
shall open brighter and brighter until at last it fades 
from earth only to be transplanted in a happier 
clime to bloom in full perfection there where groves 
are forever green and flowers forever fresh. Where 
sweet choristers of heaven sing happy anthems of 
redeeming love. Where saints redeemed, and angel 
voices, join to sing a new song through endless days 
and years. 



ADDKESS TO THE EOSE. 

Bloom on, fair rose, sweetly bloom, 
With fragrance fill the passing gale; 

Ope, for the lovely spring has come. 
In green to dress each hill and vale. 

Bloom on, for to thy lovely form 

Heaven hath given a thousand charms. 

Although through mists but dimly I 
Thy lovliness, sweet rose, can see, 

Still let my sweetest measures fly 
In humble song, admiring thee. 

Thou merit'st well a passing line 

From mightier pens than mine. 

When first the morning's beaming kiss 
The eastern hills in balmy May, 

When first the night's o'erhanging mists 
Are driven by the dawn away; 

When flowing streams of liquid light 

Dispel the gloom of sullen night; 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 63 

When nature smiles, and in the groves, 
By thousand songsters, sweet are sung 

Those happy songs of changeless love, 

And praise to God from untaught tongues; 

When buoyant feel the hearts of men, 

As though their sorrows had an end; — 

'Tis then thou fairest seem'st, sweet rose, 
'Tis then thy beauties brighter shine, 

While yet the lingering morning dews 
Upon thy fragrant leaves recline. 

As love's bright tear drops on the cheek 

Of nature, while she cannot speak. 

Weeping o'er man's depravity, 
Weeping that one who once was great, 

Who once in Eden's garden free, 
Unsullied stood in high estate. 

Has fallen now, debased and low, 

To drink the cup of pain and woe. 

Bloom on sweet rose, a few short hours, 
And thou, like dreams, shalt pass away; 

So fade, like thee, earth's fairest flowers. 
So ends, like thee, man's fleeting day. 

Thou for a moment thus shalt bloom. 

And then again thy dust resume. 

Bloom on, sweet flower, thou soon shalt die, 

And to thy mother dust return. 
Thy lovely form shalt faded lie. 

And never know it e'er was born. 
So shalt thou sweetly close thy days, 
By men admired, loved and praised. 



64 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

But I who sing this humble song, 

A while must bear life's cares and pains, 

Then leave the world to join the throng, 
That traverse Heaven's delightful plains; 

That sing celestial anthems sweet, 

Of love at the Redeemer's feet. 

But let me still contented me_, 

Though dark appear the lowering skies, 
Though roughly dash life's troubled sea, 

And fearful storms each hour arise; 
Still in me let contentment bloom. 
Till I with joy be gathered home. 



THE THINGS THAT I LOVE. 

I love the beauteous sunset. 

Whose last expiring ray 
Breaks from the western distance, 

To mark the close of day. 

I love the mild moonlight, 

I love the stilly eve, 
As she comes in gentle sweetness, 

The weary to relieve. 

I love the midnight moment, 

I love the rosy morn. 
When light's first gorgeous beamings 

Each hill and vale adorn. 

I love the shady forest. 

In sweet and blushing May, 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 65 

When thousand spreading leaflets, 
Their loveliness display. 

I love the verdant meadov^, 

I love the flowing stream, 
I love the warbler's music, 

No poet's idle dream. 

Yes, all those scenes of nature, 

Indeed I love them well, 
Nor are these half the things I love, 

Too numerous to tell. 

The vernal inlets singing, 

And autumn's slower chime, 
In solemn tones proclaiming, 

The fleeting march of time. 

I love the loftier wonders. 

Of God's almighty hand. 
When with terrific thunder 

He shakes the sea and land. 

When the ethereal concave, 

A blazing furnace seems. 
And echoing thunders waken. 

The slumberer from his dreams. 

When dashing winds and waters. 

And vivid lightnings flame, 
To men, in lovely symbol, 

Jehovah's power proclaim. 

Then indeed I love it. 

Though through a mist I see 



66 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

God's mighty works and wonders, 
His awful majesty. 

But there's a loftier object, 
That better far I love, 

The mild and loving spirit, 
So like the gentle dove. 

T love the warm heart's throbbing, 
I love the noble mind, 

Where wisdom, truth, and virtue 
In beauty are combined. 



FAME. 

There are two things of which almost all men are 
covetous, and after which they grasp with ever una- 
bating, but rather increasing vigor, and with w^hich 
the insatiable mind is never satisfied, namely, riches 
and renown. There are those who seem bent on 
amassing fortunes, caring but little how they do it. 
They do it honorably if they can, if not, dishonest 
means will be made to assume a slight appearance of 
honesty; and there are those whose determination it 
seems to be to stand on fame's proud pinnacle caring 
but little whether they gain its bights by good or by 
evil deeds. There are two kinds of fame. The one 
an empty shadow, the other that fame which is the 
fruit of love and wisdom's labor for the good of man. 
There are those who build their edifice on unsubstan- 
tial foundations, whose corner stone is selfishness; 
whose great pillar is ambition. 

Renown is honorable when merited; but better is 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 67 

he whose name is not known a dozen miles round, 
he who lives in honest obscurity, better is he if his 
heart be clean, and his conscience clear from any foul 
misdeeds to gain distinction, than Alexander or Na- 
poleon, or all those others whose names but dimly 
shine on history's page, through brave men's blood, 
an.d orphans* sighs and widows' tears. Merited 
fame is worth contending for, but the shadow let 
men avoid. Who would exchange the fame of Wash- 
ington, the brilliant laurels that he won, for all the 
glory of the ancient heroes that went forth to battle, 
but not in the name of right, nor in a holy cause. 
Who would exchange the glory of those who for the 
truth have laid down their lives; or of those noble 
minds and mighty pens that have in all ages boldly 
proclaimed the truth fearless of consequences. Who 
would exchange their glory, their renown, for that 
of all those who have disgraced philosophy's pages? 
Not he that is wise. There have been those who 
have written their names on history's page in lines 
of blood, and who on heaps of dead have traveled up 
to fame, whose end was self-glorification rather 
than the good of men. But such fame may I never 
enjoy. It is a canker in the breast; eating the vitals 
of the heart, searing the conscience, corrupting the 
soul, pregnant with more of evil than of good. He 
is great that is good. And he is worthy of renown 
whose generous heart flows constantly out in love to 
men. Whose noble mind is ever engaged in con- 
ceiving plans for the accomplishment of the high 
purpose of his soul. He it is whose way the fair 
virgin fame should light up with refulgence, and 



tl8 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

whose name should be heralded abroad, whether he 
be the descendant of a vassal or a king: whether he 
be the owner of millions, or the humble tiller of a 
few acres of soil, still he is worthy of fame and let 
him have it. 



TEUTH. 

Better is poverty with a clear conscience than 
wealth with growing thistles in the breast. Few are 
more wretched or more debased than those whose 
god is self. True love and friendship are supports 
to the mind; but deceit is a baneful canker searing 
and withering the soul. Deceit is in the mouths of 
hypocrites and on the tongues of liars. He that 
loves external beauty loves a shadow; but he that 
loves the beauty of the soul loves substance. Deeds 
of valor belong to the battle fields but works of love 
to the fireside. Let chieftains boast of triumphs over 
armies, but let me boast of triumph over self. The 
ambitious man seeks happiness in fame, and the ava- 
ricious man seeks it in wealth; but the virtuous man 
seeks and finds it in doing good. 



MY CHOICE. 

Let others seek for wealth or fame, 
A high renown, a glittering name; 
Let misers heap the shining gold. 
And kings aspire to rule the world. 

Let others urge for death or life, 
Ambition's oft unrighteous strife, 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 69 

While thousand ever eager, press 
To fortune, seeking happiness. 

On glory's hights let others stand, 
The scepter wield with mighty hand, 
And proud ambition seek for power, 
And men ascend fame's highest tower. 

But grant me, heaven, the peaceful home, 
A spot where pure affections bloom; 
O, grant me a kind, unchanging friend, 
My every step through life to attend. 

A home where love may sweetly vine. 
And thousand wreaths for me entwine. 
Where loving hearts may cluster round, 
And breasts heave with affection fond. 

And if renowned I e'er shall be, 
Oh grant, kind Providence, to me, 
Not fame for spilling precious blood, 
But fame for simply doing good. 



A FEW WORDS TO YOUNG EBADERS. 

There is a peculiar class of people in the world 
whose sole occupation seems to be to devise and per- 
petrate witticisms, and whose chief delight seems to 
be in this employment. This class of individuals is 
generally found in young society. Ever and anon 
you hear them multiplying, adding, splicing, and pro- 
longingj until to measure the endless string of jokes, 
and rigs, and funny expressions with ten ropes would 
be impossible. 



70 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

They evidently think it a mark of smartness or in- 
tellectual superiority, (if you prefer that term,) now 
for our own part we are decidedly in favor of some 
wit. It is the spice of our mental food. But too 
much spice certainly spoils the dish. "We know that 
without some wit a young person's life would be com- 
paratively dull; we know it because we are young 
ourself. But we do not consider this any argument 
that persons should follow up an incessant round of 
light conversation, as though nothing else were 
worthy of their attention. "We are willing to allow 
something for persons affected with that fearful and 
often fatal malady called love, or matrimonial fever. 
But even then we feel like pitying the young gentle- 
man who possesses a mind of so small a capacity, that 
one young lady should completely fill it, leaving 
room for nothing else, or the young lady in the same 
relative condition. Our young readers may think us 
rather severe, but we repeat that we believe in hu- 
mor and wit. But there are extremes to everything; 
and in many things a medium is certainly the best 
ground to stand upon. Now" what we wish to ar- 
rive at is this. Be careful, young friends, to temper 
your conversation with prudence; if you wish to 
possess a reputation you should not expect to build it 
on wit. There are topics enough on which it is our 
duty, and on which it should be our pleasure to con- 
verse with candor and seriousness. And if you ex- 
pect to be intelligent, arid to be counted so, you 
should give these subjects your attention. 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 71 

MIDNIGHT MUSINGS. 

'Tis sweet to meditate at eve, 

When busy cares no more oppress, 

When solitude comes to relieve, 
And give us sweet secluded rest. 

I love in silence, all alone. 

To hold sweet converse with my mind, 
And o'er the fields of thought to roam, 
And dainty pleasures there to find. 

'Tis then the mind with freedom plays, 
And then unreined thought freely moves 

Through all its boundless realms of space, 
And touch the themes that most it loves. 

Can dwell on those our hearts hold dear. 
And make more strong affection's band, 

Then soar beyond the bound of air, 
And on the constellations stand. 

I love, when others close their eyes. 
To muse upon earth's passing scenes, 

Then bid my enchanted spirit rise, 
And touch on nature's loftier themes. 

For seasons of unmingled bliss. 

For hours of unalloyed delight. 
For moments of the choicest peace, 

Give me the quiet hour of night. 



72 Miscellaneous Thoughts, 

MUSINGS AT EYE, 

There's music in the twilight hour, 
When all is calm and still, 

When breezes soft steal sweetly o'er, 
Each streamlet, plain and hill. 

To sit in silence all alone. 

In some secluded grove, 
And dwell in meditation on 

The themes that most we love. 

To think of loved ones ever dear, 

Of fond associates gay. 
Or let our thoughts ascend to where 

The stars in silence play. 

When Luna's silver light gleams forth, 
To render sweet the hour, 

Oh, then a paradise is earth. 
Our groves an Eden bower. 

A ray of sunshine then appears, 
To light life's lowering skies, 

And hopes spring up for other years, 
Like flowers of paradise. 

Oh, yes, there's pleasure in that hour, 
A bliss no tongue can tell, 

A holy rapture sweet and pure. 
That all the soul can fill. 



/ 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 73 

NECESSITY OF MORAL AS WELL AS INTEL- 
LECTUAL EDUCATION. 

There is an idea entertained by many parents that 
if they can secure a neat fortune that is counted in 
dollars and cents for their children, and especially if 
to this they add a slight knowledge of some of the 
most common branches of learning, they have done 
all that parental obligations and the natural law of 
humanity require. That this idea is fallacious I will 
not now attempt to prove. There is another idea 
among other persons equally absurd. That a few 
sessions at some college of high repute added to a 
half finished course at the Common School, and set 
off by a shining diploma, are sufficient to prepare 
young men and women to enter upon life's ever 
changing scenes. This is certainly erroneous. Even 
a thorough scientific education alone never can qual- 
ify us accountable, intellectual beings to act in that 
wonderful and complicated drama in which all of us 
must, sooner or later, if life be spared, participate. 

The heart must be educated as well as the head. 
The moral field must be cultivated as well as the in- 
tellectual. And to neglect either one wilfully is the 
hight of culpability. But to educate the head and 
leave the heart unattended to is but little better than 
wasting time. It may be worse. For what am I, 
though I have traveled through all the explored ex- 
tent of science ; though my imagination can look 
through the truthful telescope of science, and behold 
each shining constellation, and note its position, and 

see in science's light each brilliant star; and though I 

7 



74 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

may account for the retention of the earth and all her 
sister planets within their legitimate orbits by the 
opposite influence of force, centripetal and centrifu- 
gal; though I may bathe my forhead in yonder milky 
way; or if I, descending from those giddy hights pre- 
fer to move in a more contracted sphere; what 
though I am enabled to explain those mighty phenom- 
ena of nature, the thunder, so often called Jehovah's 
voice, and the vivid lightning's brilliant flash that 
sends sensations of awe with resistless power through 
the very soul of man, as trembling he beholds; 
though I can explain the means by which evapor- 
ised water is made subservient to the will of man, 
and auxiliary to the accomplishment of his purpose, 
and the cause of its immense motive power ; and 
though I may by chemical laws account for the 
changes which matter undergoes; and explain many 
of the wonderful, and otherwise mysterious phenom- 
ena of nature; though I be wedded to and familiar 
with that fairest of all sciences, Mathematics, which 
borrows her light from God's eternal laws, and like 
the moon reflects her light with sweet resplendence 
on all the other sciences, without which small indeed 
would have been the accomplishments of man, and 
few his triumphs in learning; in fine: though I am 
perfect in all that man has ever known; yet what 
am I if there shine not forth in me wisdom and vir- 
tue, and all the glorious combinations of pure and 
heaven-born principles which alone can make the 
man? What am I without those golden moral adorn- 
ments which alone can make me beautiful? An 
empty shell, a passing shadow, a thing that fools 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 75 

might well deride and wise men pity. And what are 
all my brilliant intellectual arguments, with all my 
powers of mind? A flashing meteor that hastens to 
disappear. Then if such be the importance of moral 
as well as intellectual culture, and I hold that both 
reason and example establish the truth of my posi- 
tion, how important that we, as reasonable beings, 
having immortal minds, seek with assiduous diligence 
to secure the proper education of our moral man, lest 
our intellect be as a mighty man that stretcheth forth 
his hand to do evil. 



T^E EED MAN'S LAMENTATION". 

Away from his own native home, 

The red man, disconsolate hies. 
For the merciless white man is come. 

And beyond him the red man now flies. 

From the forest, the home and the place 
Of many a long cherished scene; 

For the white man will leave not a trace, 
To show that the red man hath been. 

From the banks of the beautiful^streams. 
Where once he was wont to repose. 

Indulging in slumbers and dreams. 
With spirits dejected he goes. 

Away to the far distant West, 

All lonely he hastens along. 
While heaves with emotion his breast. 

As he breathes forth his last plaintive song. 



76 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

I'll sit down in sad silence here, 
I'll bury my face in the dust, 

And rejoice at the swift flying year, 
That bears my faint spirit to rest. 

The bright sun shall rise as before. 
And shine on the young and the fair, 

But he'll light up the wigwam no more, 
For the pale face's dwelling is there. 

Each eve he in beauty will sit, 

Adorning the gray mountain's brow; 

But the red man, Oh! w4iere is his tribe, 
All scattered and desolate now. 

Each night when the bright sun is gone. 
And the moon in her beauty appears, 

I'll wander in silence alone. 
And there shed my sorrowing tears. 

When the nightingale's notes I shall hear, 
As her song in sweet volumes ascend, 

So sweet and so lovely and clear. 
My song shall with Philomel's blend. 

I'll sojourn in loneliness here. 
At my home in the far distant West, 

Till bright seraph's my spirit shall bear, 
Away to its last peaceful rest. 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 77 



WOMAN. 

Woman has been the the theme in prose and verse 
of many writers_, who were far more able to do the 
subject justice than myself. But I must be allowed 
to speak forth my sentiments, in the hope, that by 
the blessing of Providence, they may throw an atom 
in the balance in favor of truth and right. 

Woman, in her proper sphere, properly attending 
to her legitimate duties, is a brilliant star, a golden 
adornment, without which society would be a mock- 
ery, a blank, a thing whose existence would be ima- 
ginary, not real. She it is whose gentle hand can 
smoothe the pillow in sickness, who places a drop of 
sweetness in every bitter cup, and darts a ray of 
sunshine into every bitter gloom. She it is to whom 
as citizens of our country, as members of society, and 
as men possessing immortal minds we owe gratitude 
for a great part of our good impressions and good traits 
of character; when man is toiling in the field to earn 
food for our mouths, and raiment for our bodies, she 
is toiling to train us up in the way in which we should 
go. She is toiling to lead our youthful, errant feet 
in the path of rectitude. She is laboring to instil in- 
to our hearts high and holy principles of morality, 
and a happy love of all that is pure and holy and en- 
nobling to man; she is laboring to instruct us moral- 
ly, and it may be scientifically, that we may be useful. 

Yes, let man to woman be deferential and grateful^ 
loving and true, for she merits his highest regards and 
unwavering constancy. Such is woman while she 



78 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

remains within her legitimate sphere, doing her holy 
and heaven appointed work, occupying the truly dig- 
nified station which God has assigned her. 

But there are those of that sex, — O, lamentable 
truth! to tell, who occasionally overleap those bounds* 
And when a woman has once fairly started out in the 
service of the evil one, he has few, few indeed, more 
powerful agents. Let a woman once set her heart 
and stretch forth her hand to evil, and she becomes, 
(if the reader will pardon the rough expression) a 
devil incarnate. 

By the lovliness and the noble qualities of her sex, 
by the dear name of woman, she is counterwoven in 
the very character of man, imbibed, as it were, into 
the very centre of his heart like gold^ in the quartz 
Hence her influence in society, and hence her ability 
to do mischief. 

The beauteous shell contains a fearful bane. 
Which those who touch will fear to touch again; 
The lovely flower secretes a bearded thorn. 
By which the hand that plucks is often torn. 

Man^ in the heat of passion, in the moment of ex- 
asperation, when an ungovernable temper bids silent 
stand his better judgment, may raise his hand to slay 
his fellow-man; and he may even for a selfish or ma- 
licious purpose, in cold blood, perform the deed. But 
a woman fnll of malice, and possessing an evil dispo- 
sition seeks with her tongue to murder the reputa- 
tion, and stamp an undying stigma on the character. 
I suppose it is hardly necessary for me to say that I 
do not impute this to the female sex as a body; for 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 79 

what I have already said is sufficient to clear me of 
that. 

But there are those among them, (though I say it 
with no pleasure but rather with pain) to whom my 
language too well applies. j 

Woman, whoever you be^ where do you stand? 
what position do you occupy? Perhaps you have 
children; and does everything that is afloat in the 
neighborhood enter in at your ear and out at 
your mouth, and that too in your children's pres- 
ence, and to their knowledge? Are you training 
them up to be useful men and women, or have you 
delighted in the vicious course just alluded to, and 
are you leading them on in the same path with your- 
self? If so, believe me when I tell you that you may 
thus be training a son for the gallov^^s, or a daughter 
for a life-long disgrace; and for what beyond this 
world I cannot say. 

On woman, as a mother, there rests a ponderous 
responsibility, which can only be removed by the 
full and assiduous discharge of her duty in that noble 
but responsible capacity. If the responsibility is not 
thus removed it might stand against you one day in 
condemnation. Nor is this all the influence of your 
example on your children; unless counteracted by 
some interposition of beneficent heaven, it will reach 
to the third and fourth generation, and carry along 
with it its blighting evils. 



80 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

CHILDHOOD. 

How blest are thy moments, how many thy pleas- 
ures, 

How full thy enjoyments, how sweet are thy treas- 
ures; 

Scarce a dark, lowering cloud ever seem'st to hang 
oe'r thee, 

While pleasures delightful seem waiting before thee. 

How full is thy measure, thy sweet cup of bliss, 
How" merry thy laughter, how joyous thy lisp; 
O! happy w^ould monarchs and emperors be, 
If ever sweet childhood forever like ihee. 

Kind heaven to earth a bright jewel hath given, — 
'Tis childhood, the beautiful emblem of heaven. 
Where angels and seraphs as children unite. 
To sing and to praise in those blest realms of light. 



THE POLITICAL MILLENIUM. 

Behold, behold the day is come, 
Behold the morning dawns, 

Oppression hears its awful doom. 
And trembles on its throne; 

With frantic rage the tyrants seize 

The arm of war to break the peace. 

Let nations gathering to the war, 

For liberty contend. 
From sea to sea, from shore to shore. 

Let the oppressed attend. 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 81 

To strike for liberty and right, 
Against oppression's fiendish might. 

Now bleeding Hungary ready stands, 

Her shining sword is drawn; 
Fair Italy's patriotic band, 

Is waiting to go on. 
While Poland pants to join the train, 
And shed her blood, her right to gain. 

In every land unnumbered cries 

Go up from the oppressed; 
In every land unnumbered sighs 

Rise from the troubled breast. 
The cup is full and running o'er, 
And nations can endure no more. 

To battle let the world go forth; 

Let nations boldly rise, 
Let blood bestain the fruitful earth. 

And smoke becloud the skies; 
For so 'twill be, hell will not yield, 
Till crimson'd be the battle-field. 

Then let the mighty deed be done. 

Let might and truth combine, 
Till brighter than the noonday sun. 

Freedom resplendent shine. 
Till man no more his fellows rule, 
And dried be tyranny's dark pool. 

Till freedom and the Gospel bless 

Each long afflicted clime; 
8 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

Till come earth's sweetest day of rest, 

Before the close of time. 
Till foul oppression be not known, 
Amid the blaze of freedom's sun. 

Oh then lift up your heads ye hills. 

Ye blooming deserts sing, 
And know with joy, ye playful rills, 

Jehovah is the king. 
No more shall nations groan in chains, 
Jehovah rules, Jehovah reigns. 



BE CONTENTED. 



Does sorrow frown upon thee now. 
The sun may shirre to-morrow, 

And all be cheerful here below, 
Then care not for this sorrow. 

A few more days and it shall end. 

And all thy cares be over, 
A few more days and thou shalt then, 

A lasting rest discover. 

Do foul mis representers slander. 

And liars seek to anger? 
The lie must to the truth surrender. 

Fear not there is no danger. 

The evil heart may bear deceit. 
And fools may carry malice; 

But we with love and truth can beat 
Whatever may assail us. 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. S3 

Do deep misfortunes weigh thee down, 

And adverse winds oppose? 
While others wear the glittering crown, 

And walk where pleasure flows. 

Still peace and joy they seldom feel, 
Who sail on wealth's smooth river. 

To them the bliss our homes can yield. 
Remains unknown forever. 

Do vicious men deceive with lies, 

And loved ones false betray thee? 
Fear not, they'll fall, but thou wilt rise, 

They little can delay thee. 

The haughty world may laugh to scorn, 

And rough may roll life's billow. 
But laughing fools shall find a thorn, 

In every downy pillow. 

The grasping man may have his hour 

Of sweet, pretended pleasure; 
But brighter is contentment's flower, 

A fairer, better treasure. 



THE PATH OF DUTY. 

The path of duty is the only path of safety. And 
not only so, but it is the only path to peace and hap- 
piness here, and life eternal hereafter. Duty is the 
road and death is the gate to heaven. 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 



LOYE. 



Love is the essence of existence, without which ex- 
istence would be hell and there would be no heaven. 
Love is a beautiful stream, whose fountain head is in 
heaven. It flows into the heart of man, making fer- 
tile the otherwise barren spot, causing the desert to 
blossom, and converting the sterile valley into an 
elysian field. O, holy Love, thy value who can tell! 

Give me not idle flattery sweet, 

Nor seas of shining gold, 
For 'tis a mass of sheer deceit, 

Of icy chillness cold. 

But give to me the better part. 

Pure love where'er I rove; 
And let me find in other hearts 

A corresponding love. 



ATTEND TO OUR OWN BUSINESS. 

Who can tell the amount of this life's troubles that 
might be avoided, how many life-long heart-burnings 
might be prevented, how many ties of friendship 
might be preserved unbroken, which are not, by sim- 
ply attending to our own business. I do not mean 
by this to advocate the adoption of a selfish course 
— I'll help myself and you may do the best you can. 
No; we should be helpful to each other. Always 
willing to lend a hand to help a neighbor out of dif- 
ficulties, but never to help him into them. 

But what I have reference to is a certain class of 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 85 

individuals who seem never so well satisfied as when 
they are attending to the concerns of those around 
them, when really those around them need none of 
their assistance. They are like fools counseling the 
wise. They are ever busy with long tongues and 
nimble hands, but diminutive mental capacity, con- 
tributing more to confusion than elucidation. 

Let us attend to our own business, and let that of 
our neighbor alone, except when we act in kindness, 
and from the love of doing good. So we may avoid 
a world of trouble, and escape an ocean of ill-will. 



THE CLOSE OF LIFE AT HOME IN PEACE. 

The hero falls upon the field. 

The wounded victors die, 
While to his arms the vanquished yield, 

Or in disorder fly. 

The mighty empire's emperor sinks 

Within his shining hall, 
While pomp and splendor gather round, 

To mourn his helpless fall. 

The men of high renown in state, 

'Mid splendor fade away. 
While glittering thousands mourning wait 

Around his lifeless clay. 

I would not die like one of these, 

'Mid pomp and empty show, 
I'd rather die where home's sweet joys 

Like streams of nectar flow. 



86 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

Yes, let me, when my years are full, 
'Mid home's sweet pleasures die. 

Where friendship's flower may blossom o'er, 
The spot where I shall lie. 

Sweet home, may I at last incline, 

Within thy sacred soil, 
And know no more of empty things, 

Nor dream of care and toil. 

No royal hand I ask to smooth 

^ My pillow in that hour; 
All, all I ask is fadeless love. 
The bright, celestial flower. 



TO THE STARS AND STRIPES. 

Wave on ye glorious stripes and stars. 
Wave o'er Columbia's happy land, 

From calm Pacific's eastern shore. 
To bold Atlantic's western strand. 

Over north and south unfurl your fold, 
And shelter all from east to west. 

No sections know, none but the whole. 
All, all alike by heaven blest. 

Though traitor's hands would you defile. 
And leave you in the dust to trail. 

Still wave, as wave ye ever shall, 
For heaven's designs can never fail. 

Forever thrice accursed be 
The hand that would our banner stain, 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 87 

And break our bonds of unity, 
And rend our Union dear in twain. 

Go, traitor, where the filthy pool. 

Of tyranny rolls its dark wave. 
Go revel there, thou reckless fool, 

And in its base pollution lave. 

Nor let thy feet polluted soil, 

The ground where patriots have bled, 

Through days and years of infinite toil, 
To rear an infant nation's head. 

Touch not this land, thou art not clean, 

Thou art the vilest of the vile, 
Thou*d lift thy hand in fiendish spleen 

Against Omniscient heaven's will. 

But still wave on ye stars and stripes, 
Wave on unstained, untorn, unsoiled, 

Till human tears away be wiped, 

And foul oppression's power be spoiled. 

Let pa triot hearts more closely draw. 
The ties that bind us State to State, 

So shall we check the traitor's blow, 
And so avoid the martyr's fate. 



88 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

A CLEAR COKSCIENCE. 

Give me a conscience free from stain, 
And let me know I am right, 

Then let vain men and devils vend 
At me their unavailing spite. 

Let Hell oppose, let Earth deride, 

Let slander speed on lightning's wings, 

Yet I amid the storm shall stand, 
And fearless still my song shall sing. 

To me a whirlwind is but play, 

A thousand darts are welcome here, 

With an approving God and heart, 
I will not flinch, I never fear. 



TO LITTLE CHILDREN. 

'Suffer little children to come unto me for such is the kingdow 
of Heaven." — Bible. 

Come little children, come to me. 

The Savior bids you come. 
Ye are earth's brighter, fairer gems. 

Her sweetest flowers that bloom. 

Of such his kingdom is made up, 

God loves the little child, 
O joyous thought, O, blessed hope, 

It makes affliction mild. 

The holy angels round His throne. 
Like children daily sing. 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 89 

Eternal songs of filial love, 
To God their Heavenly king. 

Far, far away in that sweet clime, 

Mid golden beauties fair, 
When all have seen the end of time, 

Ye may be gathered there. 

Then little children learn the way 

Of holy truth and love. 
That you in that ecstatic day. 

May join the throng above. 



GOD EXISTS. 

Who doubts that God exists, come reason now. 

With serious candor laying prejudice 

Aside. Where prejudice should ever be, 

Aside from God's high word his holy writ. 

Which thou of course wouldst doubt, we'll turn away 

And on sweet nature in her various forms 

Reflect, and answer if thou canst, what I 

Shall ask, tell if thy law of chance wilt thee 

Support against the arm of reason strong. 

Whence comes this regularity in things? 

The morning dawns, the day grows old and dies, 

The night comes on in darkness deep and thick 

With sable curtain to enshroud the hills, 

The stars appear and with their silver light 

All nature sublime with paler beams ; 

While Luna in her course moves gently on, 

A shining resplendence to each passing scene; 

The night it disappears, the dawn returns, 



90 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

The rising sun moves on, the day grows old 

And dies again, the night again returns. 

So with the seasons ever constantly 

They change, nor change in vain, for thou vain man 

Would'st soon the bitter fruits of folly see, 

Should*st thou but have, e'en for a little while, 

Thy ideal chance to rule the passing year. 

But why is it, since thou wilt own no God, 

Why is it that the seasons change, and why 

Does earth move on ever revolving in her path^ 

And on her axis bringing day and night, 

And measuring by years the lease of time? 

If chance govern all things, why this, and why 

Do stars their glory bright each night display? 

Why does the moon her nightly duties do? 

Why does the sun his radiant glories shed 

On the ungrateful recipient of 

God's daily mercies, to his creature man? 

Why do the fruitful showers descend to moist 

The earth, that it may all thy wants supply? 

Or why does vegetation yield its fruit ? 

Away unbelieving, vain, stubborn man, 

Self-willed and arrogant deceptive man 

Away, go preach thy doctrine to the trees 

And stumps, and to the dens and caves of earth, 

For men of real sense will ne'er believe, 

A thing which nature proves to be a lie; 

Go, go in peace, hell were too good for thee, 

But God is merciful as well as just; 

Bow down in sackcloth and in ashes low, 

Thy sins acknowledge and thy guilt confess, 

Give up thy vile fallacious creed and bow. 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 91 

And own Jehovah over thee and all 
The great first principle supremely high. 



BEAUTY IN GOD'S AREANGEMENTS. 

When summer's sun in glory sinks to rest, 
And lingering rays adorn the distant west, 
When crimsoned clouds float round on wings of air, 
What gorgeous beauty is presented there. 

And when the rising sun majestic bright. 
Plants on the eastern hills in beamy light 
The shining empress of his radiant power, 
While at his coming smiles each flower; » 

When the autumnal leaves comes rustling down, 
And countless myriads bestrew the ground. 
Then there's a sweet, a solemn loveliness. 
Stamped on the moment as it hurries past. 

When spring in all her loveliness bursts forth. 
To plant her flowery footstep on the earth. 
And with her maiden hands to adorn the trees, 
And scatter rich perfumes on every breeze, 

O there are seen those golden beauties then. 
Which to describe must baffle every pen. 
Whose beauties which the tongue can never tell, 
Not by the power of man describable. 

And when Jehovah riding on the storm. 
Gives to the gathering cloud a fearful form. 
When darkness thick the moving mass pervades. 
And forked lightnings play unchecked, unstayed; 



92 Miscellaneous Thoughts* 

Whenever to the east the cloud has gone, 
And in the west appears the brilliant sun. 
What dazzling beauties may each eye behold, 
As heaven to man the lovely scene unfolds. 

See it and fear it, ye who impious are, 

Who to contend against the Almighty dare, 
Mercy there is for you if you'll receive, 
But rolling thunders tell that justice lives. 

Mercy entreats you to your sins forsake, 
That you may with angelic hosts partake, 
Justice for mercy's sake subduedly bows, 
But when kind mercy fails his sword he draws. 

There's beauty in the verdant mead and lawn, 
And in the lily and the rose full blown; 
There's beauty in the ocean and the isle, 
And in the valley and in the mountain pile. 

There's beauty in God's works, where e'er I rove, 
I see and feel his wisdom and his love. 
And no reflecting, honest, noble mind. 
In God's arrangements beauty fails to find. 



THE AIM OF LIFE. 



Man seems originally to have been created for the 
sole purpose of glorifying his creator and of enjoying 
felicity. Since the entrance of sin into the world, 
however, things seem to have undergone a change, 
and other aims, and other ends seem to demand his 
attention. There is grief to be assuaged ; there are 



Miscellaneous Thoughts. 93 

pains to be soothed ; there are affiictions to be allevi- 
ated ; there are seductive influences to be counter- 
acted ; snares to be shunned, and souls to be reclaim- 
ed from the paths of error. None of this would 
have been, had man maintained his primeval purity 
— had Milton's female monster sin kept closed th® 
gates of hell. But since this is not so — we have du- 
ties that call on us for a performance. Each one of 
us has or should have an aim, an end of life, and that 
aim should be to do good, that end should be to el- 
evate and benefit mankind— -to do deeds of charity 
and love. 

High aim indeed to smooth the road to Heaven, 
To guide aright life's bark by tempests driven; 
High end Almighty God to glorify, 
And to obtain the blest felicity. 

It is in our power, and it is our happy privilege 
while sojourning here, to make this ephemeral exis- 
tence bright with acts of love. Nothing can reflect 
sweeter resplendence on our lives than to do all the 
good we can. No sweeter, happier, more delightful 
recollection can float across our mind in the dying 
hour, than that of having done all the good we could ; 
of having made use of every practicable means to 
benefit our fellowmen. Then let me be useful. Help 
me, O God! all my dependence is in thee — to my 
feeble efforts to do good, in whatever direction they 
may be put forth, add thy strength. That whether 
I be called to walk in public or private life ; whether 
I stand upon the mountain top or wander low down 
in the valley — still may I be an instrument in thy 
hands of accomplishing good ; that when my few 



94 Miscellaneous Thoughts. 

short years are spent, and my pilgrimage is termina. 
ted, I may lay down in peace, conscious of not hav. 
ing been a useless cumberer. That I may sweetly 
pass away to that rest where sorrows end — where 
tribulations are no more. That I may be transplant, 
ed to gardens celestial, there to bloom beside the 
waters of life forever; where countless springs of joy 
weir forth eternally; where rivers of pure delight 
forever flow ; where vernal beauties never fade, and 
heavenly fruits are ever ripening; where necterine 
streams meander through shady bowers, while an- 
gels gather round to drink celestial sweets; where 
seraphic choirs and saints redemed unite in holy 
unity and concord, to sing the new song. Yes, let 
me be useful — let me endeavor to do well that for 
which I am in the world — that a clear conscience 
and an approving God may support me in life's last 
scenes, and that that glorious end may be mine when 
life is done. 



THE END. 



'^ 



